Social Justice Archaeology: University of Montana Anthropological Collections – Repatriation and NAGPRA

This panel includes 2022 Fall students of the new experimental course, ANTHROPOLOGY (ANTY) 491 - Archaeology, Identity, and Social Justice Practicum. Students in this Practicum put both classroom and theoretical learning into practice by observing and participating in a range of hands-on activities associated with UM’s anthropological collections. The aim is to share with the academic community, the practical skills and experiences used during practicum to help prepare students for work in the dynamic and ever-changing fields of anthropology and public archaeology. These fields are amid a paradigm shift where theories and values are intersecting in unpredictable ways, requiring professionals to have relationship-building and diplomatic skills, with nuanced understandings of tribal sovereignty and cultural competence. Practicum activities revolved around “real-world” challenges associated with these ongoing changes, including repatriation and reconciliation issues. Depending on the needs of each class activity, our methods changed to contextualize project activities carried out on campus such as the September 30, Boarding School Symposium and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer’s (THPO) visits. Class activities enriched our understanding of social justice issues in cultural heritage fields. The panel discussion begins with a brief summary presentation on the ANTY 491 practicum group work in Autumn 2022 related to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and repatriation in general; then highlight how students with different fields expertise address questions on how such differences impact interpretation of social justice issues; how forming connections with collections and repatriation work can improve health and well-being of communities; how important it is to listen and work in collaboration with fellow students and tribal colleagues; and how institutions we are affiliated with should take proactive responsibility with land acknowledgements. The significance of this practicum is to use the mundane as evidence to unravel how victims of social injustices continue to wipe tears in the journey of emotional healing